Retail Update
Susan Dickenson, Retail Editor, Home Accents Today, Twitter: @susandickenson
Target shows off 'Threshold' home collection in life-size dollhouse
Target built a life-size dollhouse in the middle of New York's Grand Central Terminal this week, filled it with 3,000 pieces of furniture and home décor from its new Threshold collection, and invited everyone to play.It's quite an installation for the short time that the two-story, 1,600-sq.-ft. structure is "open" to the public - just yesterday and today (May 6 and 7). But thanks to the... Read More
Comments (0)Support strengthens for state sales tax collection from online retailers
It's highly likely that the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would allow states to collect sales tax from "remote" sellers (online and catalog retailers operating from another state), will become law before the year is out.The proposal cleared a big hurdle last month when, as an amendment attached to the Budget Resolution, it was approved 75-24 in the Senate. The vote was actually just a... Read More
Comments (1)Market bling
The work of celebrated Harley-Davidson artist Scott Jacobs is now available through The Art Highway, a new company debuting its showroom, and some of Jacobs' work, in High Point this week. For this series, Jacobs used metallic ink on metallic archival paper; Art Highway mounts them in metallic automobile finished frames (that can be polished with car wax).The giclees, an offering exclusive to Art... Read More
Comments (0)Workwell, at the High Point Market
We're seeing lots of great energy and creativity on display at the High Point Market this weekend. Yesterday, following a tour of the new additions to Hooker's Melange accent furniture line (check out their new logo in the photo, right), designer Cindy Hall took me through her Workwell launch -- a great collection of accent furniture/work desk/accessories combinations for today's connected consume... Read More
Comments (0)Retailers get serious, more selective, about social media
While posting the nominations call for Home Accents Today's 2013 Retail Stars, I was reminded of a contest that was under way at the National Retail Federation at this time last year. The NRF had put out a call for the "Best Retail Story in America," to be communicated via a two-minute video. This past January, during the NRF's annual conference in New York, the contest winner and... Read More
Comments (1)Aktion Plagiarius dishonors best design knock-offs with annual awards
A new round of design knock-offs in housewares, home decor and gift items were recognized with Plagiarius awards at February's Ambiente show in Frankfurt. Since 1977, German non-profit Aktion Plagiarius has been awarding these juried "anti-prizes" to manufacturers and distributors of "the most flagrant" design imitations. Each year, in a special exhibit at Ambi... Read More
Comments (1)Peer Power: What's in it for retail?
AS PART OF ITS RECENTLY released "Things to Watch in 2013 Retail Report," marketing communications brand JWT discusses the growing strength of the peer-powered marketplace - a world of collaborative consumption possibilities facilitated by online connectivity and social networking. The JWTIntelligence report says the peer-powered economy, which dates back to the beginning of networks lik... Read More
Comments (1)In-home pop-up store pacifies the retail 'pang'
WHILE GATHERING information for this month's "Retail Ideas that Work" page, I thought of a recent conversation I had with Lynni Megginson, former retailer, columnist and Home Accents Today Retail Star. Many of you may remember her from her book, The Absolutely Essential Guide to Planning Fabulous Retail Events, or the colorful seminars she used to give at the High Point and Atlanta marke... Read More
Comments (1)Sunnier skies in the forecast
IF THIS SEASON'S FLURRIES of retail predictions, surveys and holiday shopping results are accurate, it's a pretty good time to be a home furnishings retailer.Analysts tell us consumer confidence remains high, the economy and housing market continue to improve, and Congress might actually be capable of reaching a compromise that will keep us from plunging over the fiscal cliff. That's the view this... Read More
Comments (0)Retailers experience Bridgewater's 'Light a Candle, Feed a Child' impact in Honduras
In October, I accompanied a team of Bridgewater Candle Company employees and retailers on the company's annual "Brand Experience" journey, which took them last year to Haiti, and this year to a children's home in Honduras. Bridgewater is part of the Grace Management Group of home fragrance brands that includes Greenleaf, Votivo and Willowbrook. Based in Spartanburg, S.C., Grace's 300,000... Read More
Comments (4)Industry veterans create Fandeck, online tools and resources for interior designers
FANDECK IS A NEW website and online tool that offers interior designers an automated process by which they can present, display and store professional projects, as well as create project boards, source product and market their services. Headquartered in Pasadena, Calif., the company was founded by Josh Hong, a home furnishings design veteran by way of Toyo Trading, Import Collection and Pacific Co... Read More
Comments (0)The need to touch, sniff and taste, before buying
I recently read an article in USA Today about the future of retail, called "Why shopping will never be the same," by Jon Swartz. As interesting as some of the futuristic concepts sound - digital dressing room mirrors, augmented reality, products delivered via 3-D printers, embedded computer chips, digital shopping menus set in store windows and signage - what I found more interesting wer... Read More
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